ELLSI vs ELLSIx: Which Personality Assessment Should You Use?
Same family of traits, two different jobs. ELLSI is the development instrument; ELLSIx is the hiring instrument. The simplest rule: use ELLSI when the person wants an honest read on themselves (coaching, growth), and ELLSIx when the person has a reason to look good (a job is on the line).
| ELLSI | ELLSIx | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Coaching & development | Hiring & selection |
| Factors | 5 (Five Factor Model) | 6 (Five Factor Model + Honesty & Humility) |
| Format | Likert scale (100 items) | Forced-choice (Thurstonian IRT) |
| Faking resistance | Standard | High |
| Signature output | Coaching report + 40 archetypes | Radar profile + hiring-manager brief + interview questions |
| Price | $19.95/token | $39.95/token |
How they differ
ELLSI measures the Five Factor Model with a 100-item Likert questionnaire and returns rich coaching reports and one of 40 personality archetypes — it has been used in coaching and development programs for 10+ years. ELLSIx measures six factors (the Five Factor Model plus Honesty & Humility) using a forced-choice format scored with Thurstonian Item Response Theory, which recovers normative scores that are much harder to game than Likert self-ratings — the property that matters when you are selecting between candidates.
Which should you choose?
- Choose ELLSI for coaching, leadership development, team self-awareness, and any setting where candor is assumed.
- Choose ELLSIx for pre-employment selection, where faking resistance and a hiring-manager-ready report matter most.
- Use both when you hire with ELLSIx and then develop the person you hired with ELLSI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ELLSI and ELLSIx?
ELLSI is a five-factor Likert personality assessment for coaching and development; ELLSIx is a six-factor forced-choice assessment for hiring that adds Honesty & Humility and resists faking.
Is ELLSIx just ELLSI with an extra factor?
No. ELLSIx adds Honesty & Humility as a sixth factor, but it also changes the measurement format from Likert to forced-choice (Thurstonian IRT) specifically to make scores harder to game in high-stakes hiring.
Can I use ELLSI for hiring?
You can, but ELLSI's Likert format is easier to game when a job is on the line. For selection decisions, ELLSIx's forced-choice format is the better-suited tool; reserve ELLSI for development.
Which is more expensive?
ELLSI is $19.95/token and ELLSIx is $39.95/token. Both are sold on token-based pricing with no subscription or minimum.